Best Open Earbuds for 2026

In recent years, the biggest growth category in the earbuds market has been earbuds with open designs that don't seal your ear canal and let you hear the outside world for "situational awareness." Noise-canceling buds with silicone or foam tips tend to deliver richer sound with more bass, but the sound of open earbuds continues to improve. Also many top open buds not only sound decent but will fit your ears comfortably and securely, making them excellent options for running and working out. I've personally tested all the earbuds on this list and fully reviewed some of them.

8.8/10 CNET Score

Why I like them

Pros

Same H2 chip found in AirPods Pro 2

More compact design

Active noise canceling that works

Improved sound

Excellent voice-calling performance

Personalized spatial audio

Case has wireless charging and speaker for Find My

Cons

Battery life could be a little better

Noise-canceling isn't as good as AirPods Pro 2's

Why I like them

Pros

Comfortable fit and good build quality

Strong sound for open earbuds, with large 11×20 mm dual-diaphragm drivers

Good battery life (up to 12 hours)

Noise reduction technology takes the edge off ambient sound

Good voice-calling performance

Wireless charging

Cons

Fairly pricey

Noise reduction feature doesn't muffle sound as well as AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation

Why I like them

Jump to details

Pros

Comfortable, secure fit

Fairly premium design for the price and a good value overall

Very good sound for open earbuds

Dual drivers, including a Knowles balanced-armature driver, and Sound by Bose tuning

Good battery life (up to 8 hours)

IP66 waterproof and dust-resistant

Cons

They distort a little at higher volumes

Not great for noisy environments

No ear-detection sensors

Why I like them

Pros

Slightly improved design and comfort

Impressive sound for open earbuds

Improved battery life

New physical control button

Cons

Somewhat pricey

Why I like them

Pros

Good sound for clip-on open earbuds

Comfortable, secure fit

Good battery life

Wireless charging

Cons

Pricey

Voice-calling performance could be a little better

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Best Open Earbuds for 2026

What are the best open wireless earbuds overall?

Best open earbuds of 2026

Best open earbuds with active noise canceling

Best open earbuds with ear hooks

Best-sounding clip-on open earbuds for the money

Top wireless earbuds for runners and bikers

Best new premium clip-on earbuds

Best budget clip-on earbuds

Bose's best open earbuds

Best open earbuds with a smart case

Best cheap open earbuds with ear hooks

Best clip-on earbuds from Sony

Top midrange open buds with ear hooks

Top lightweight earbuds with ear hooks

Factors to consider when buying open earbuds

How we test open wireless earbuds

Other open wireless earbuds we've tested

Open wireless earbuds FAQ

What are the best open wireless earbuds overall?

With open earbuds available in a variety of designs, it's hard to declare one model the best overall, but the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Canceling are the best open earbuds with stems and are easy to recommend to Apple users. (The standard AirPods 4 leave off the noise canceling and wireless charging but feature the same fit and sound quality.) While pricey, I also like Shokz' new OpenFit Pro buds that have an ear-hook design. And the Bose-infused Baseus Inspire XC1 are the best value for clip-on style open buds.

Read more: Best True Wireless Earbuds for 2026

Best open earbuds of 2026

Pros

Same H2 chip found in AirPods Pro 2

More compact design

Active noise canceling that works

Improved sound

Excellent voice-calling performance

Personalized spatial audio

Case has wireless charging and speaker for Find My

Cons

Battery life could be a little better

Noise-canceling isn't as good as AirPods Pro 2's

Why I like them

The AirPods 4 are, unsurprisingly, the fourth generation of Apple's original true-wireless earbuds that feature an open design, which means they don't have silicone ear tips like the AirPods Pro 3. Not only do they feature a slightly smaller design and better sound than their predecessor, but they're equipped with Apple's H2 chip that improves overall performance and powers Apple's ever expanding AirPods features, though they don't have the AirPods Pro 2's Hearing Aid mode. Read my Apple AirPods 4 review.

The AirPods 4 comes in two versions: a $129 entry-level model and a $179 step-up model with active noise canceling. ANC is a rare feature for open earbuds because it typically doesn't work with an open design, but these are the first open buds I've tried to have active noise canceling that actually works (it's about half as strong as the AirPods Pro 2's noise canceling and 25% as strong as the AirPods Pro's 3). That's pretty cool and worth the extra $50 if you can afford it.

Reasons to buy

A lot of people don't like having ear tips jammed in their ears and find open earbuds more comfortable (plus, you can hear the the outside world for safety reasons), and the AirPods 4 are made for those Apple users. They also sound very good for open earbuds and feature excellent voice-calling performance along with Apple's spatial audio and likable pinch controls. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Canceling are more special simply because they feature noise canceling. No, the AirPods 4 with ANC's noise muffling capabilities aren't that great compared with what you get with the AirPods Pro 3 and top noise-canceling earbuds like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) or the Sony WF-1000XM5. But that it works at all and is reasonably effective is kind of wild because, as I said, noise canceling and open earbuds usually aren't a good mix.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

While their slightly smaller, updated design fits a wider range of ears more securely, some folks may not get a secure fit. The AirPods Pro 3 offer a more flexible fit because they include five different sizes of ear tips. They also deliver better sound with more bass in a noise-isolating design (the AirPods Pro 3's excellent noise canceling is significantly better than that of the AirPods 4 with ANC).

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Pros

Comfortable fit and good build quality

Strong sound for open earbuds, with large 11×20 mm dual-diaphragm drivers

Good battery life (up to 12 hours)

Noise reduction technology takes the edge off ambient sound

Good voice-calling performance

Wireless charging

Cons

Fairly pricey

Noise reduction feature doesn't muffle sound as well as AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation

Why I like them

Shokz wanted to equip its new flagship OpenFit Pro open earbuds with active noise cancellation, but that's not easy with open earbuds. Instead, it ended up dialing back expectations and calling the tech inside these new ear-hook style buds, "OpenEar Noise Reduction." It's a good thing it did because, during time testing the OpenFit Pro, they didn't reduce ambient sound nearly as well as the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. But they sound impressive for open earbuds, are comfortable to wear and have the premium build quality you'd expect from a set of earbuds that cost $250. Read review.

Reasons to buy

The OpenFit Pro are well-designed and among the best-sounding open earbuds.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

There are more affordable open buds with ear-hook designs that may not sound quite as good but do cost $50 to $100 less.

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Pros

Comfortable, secure fit

Fairly premium design for the price and a good value overall

Very good sound for open earbuds

Dual drivers, including a Knowles balanced-armature driver, and Sound by Bose tuning

Good battery life (up to 8 hours)

IP66 waterproof and dust-resistant

Cons

They distort a little at higher volumes

Not great for noisy environments

No ear-detection sensors

Why I like them

Like Baseus' noise-isolating Inspire XP1 earbuds that I rated highly, the Inspire XC1 feature "Sound by Bose" and a more premium design than earlier Baseus earbuds. The XC1 don't sound as good as the XP1, but they sound very good for open earbuds and are equipped with dual drivers, one of which is a Knowles balanced-armature driver that helps improve treble performance. While they don't produce as much bass as noise-isolating earbuds like the Inspire XP1, their bass performance is better than I expected. The buds' sound is pretty full, especially in quieter environments, though they do better with less bass-heavy material (I did notice a bit of distortion at higher volumes with certain tracks with harder driving bass).

While I slightly prefer the design and fit of Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds (as well as the design of their case) and think the Bose buds sound more natural and a tad better overall, the much more affordable Inspire XC1 fit comfortably and offer top-tier sound for clip-on open earbuds (and they play louder than the Bose), as well as decent voice-calling performance with good background noise reduction. They also have an IP66 water-resistance rating, which means they're fully waterproof and dust-resistant. I also appreciated that they have a programmable physical button on each earbud to control playback, multipoint Bluetooth (so you can connect two devices to the buds simultaneously) and a low-latency mode for video gaming and video watching.

The buds have been tuned by Bose engineers and their default EQ setting in the app is "Sound by Bose," but you can also tweak the sound a bit with six additional presets, including a bass boost mode and a custom EQ setting. The buds support the SBC and AAC codecs along with LDAC for Android users (it has to be turned on in the app). Battery life is solid at around 8 hours on a single charge with volume set at 50%.

Reasons to buy

The Inspire XC1 stack up well against the more expensive Shokz' Open Dots clip-on earbuds and while they're not quite as good overall as Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, they cost less than half the price and sound nearly as good.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

If you can't afford this model, Baseus also makes the MC1 Pro, which sometimes gets discounted to around $50. The Inspire XC1 look very similar but have a more premium design and upgraded sound.

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Pros

Slightly improved design and comfort

Impressive sound for open earbuds

Improved battery life

New physical control button

Cons

Somewhat pricey

Why I like them

Shokz has released the newer OpenFit 2 Plus, which adds wireless charging and a Dolby Atmos sound mode for $20 more. The buds are otherwise the same, so you can decide whether it's worth the extra dough (I'm not sure it is). Both are comfortable to wear, sound excellent for open earbuds, at least in quieter environments and offer good voice-calling performance. I also like that each bud has a programmable physical control button to control playback. Read my Shokz OpenFit 2 review.

Reasons to buy

While the Shokz OpenFit 2 are a little pricey, they're among the best open earbuds with ear hooks and feature a comfortable, durable design, strong sound quality (for open earbuds), good voice-calling performance and improved controls. Because of these traits, I have them near the top of my list of best headphones and earbuds for runners. They also work well for bikers and anyone who doesn't like having eartips jammed in their ears.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

You can find cheaper open earbuds with ear hooks that may not sound quite as good, but they're pretty close and are a better overall value.

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Pros

Good sound for clip-on open earbuds

Comfortable, secure fit

Good battery life

Wireless charging

Cons

Pricey

Voice-calling performance could be a little better

Why I like them

The well-designed OpenDots One are among the best open earbuds out there right now. While they don't sound quite as good as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, they're pretty close and fit my ears slightly better and have better battery life. Read review.

Reasons to buy

Like the Ultra Open Earbuds, which sell for $299, they're a bit overpriced, but at least they cost less than the Bose and their case has wireless charging.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The Shokz OpenDots One may cost less than the Bose but they're still pretty pricey.

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Pros

Affordable

Comfortable, secure fit with upgraded slim wave C-ring and air cushions

Very good sound for the price

They're equipped with Bluetooth 6.0 and are fully waterproof and dust-proof with an IP67 rating

Physical button for playback and volume control

Strong battery life and decent voice-calling performance

Cons

Rounded case is a little slippery

Can distort a bit at higher volumes

Why I like them

New for 2026, Baseus' affordable Bowie MC2 clip-on buds improve upon the earlier MC1 with superior sound and a design that's a little less generic. (Yhey shouldn't be confused with the $10 cheaper MC2 Air buds, which have slightly worse sound and build quality.).They're also a bit more comfortable, thanks to an upgraded "slim wave C-ring" and "air cushions" that come in three sizes. They offer slightly better performance to the Bowie MC1 Pro -- I felt they sounded a little cleaner with slightly bigger sound overall and less distortion at higher volumes. (The MC2 has a shade larger 11mm driver instead of the 10.8mm driver found in the MC1 Pro.) Like the MC1 Pro, these have support for the LDAC audio codec (along with AAC and SBC) for Android devices and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. A low-latency gaming mode is also available.

While not quite in the same league as Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, Shokz' Open Dots or Baseus' own Inspire XC1 clip-on buds, they're only a very small step down for sound quality but cost a lot less. Equipped with Bluetooth 6.0, they have an IP67 certification, which means the buds are fully waterproof and dustproof, making them suitable for runners and bikers. Voice-calling capabilities are also good -- like the MC1 Pro, they have two microphones per bud. Callers told me they heard only minimal background noise while my voice sounded acceptably clear when I spoke to them from the noisy streets of New York. As for battery life, the buds are rated for up to 11.5 hours with bass boost engaged (which Baseus markets as Super Bass 3.0). I kept the bass boost on when I was listening to music.

Reasons to buy

The Bowie MC2 offer a comfortable fit and are among the best budget clip-on earbuds. They sound quite decent for open buds.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The step-up Bose-infused Baseus Inspire XC1 offer a little more premium look and slightly better sound quality.

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Pros

Innovative clip-on fit

Comfortable to wear

Very good sound for open earbuds

Decent voice-calling performance

Cons

Expensive

Look may not appeal to everyone

Not great for noisy environments

Why I like them

They weren't the first clip-on earbuds, but Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds really kickstarted this sub-genre of true-wireless earbuds. They literally clip onto the side of your ears, kind of like earrings, and their open design has micro speakers that fire sound into your ears while still being able to hear what's happening around you. They're somewhat overpriced, but otherwise, there's a lot to like about them, including a surprisingly comfortable, secure fit and very good sound quality for open buds. Initially, the buds didn't feature multipoint Bluetooth pairing, but the feature was added in July of 2024. Read my Bose Ultra Open Earbuds review.

Reasons to buy

If you're looking for open ear buds that allow you to hear the outside world, Bose's Ultra Earbuds are among the best out there, featuring a very comfortable, secure fit with strong sound quality for open earbuds in a premium design.

Reason to skip/keep looking

They're a little overpriced. I'd like to see these closer to $200 (they do often go on sale for $250).

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Pros

A little lighter and offer a slightly more comfortable fit than their predecessor

Very good sound for open earbuds with ample bass and good clarity

Loaded with features, including UV sterilization of buds in case

Touchscreen in charging case

Built-in voice controls

Good voice-calling performance and strong battery life

Dolby spatial audio with head tracking

Cons

Somewhat pricey

Case is a little large

Can distort a bit at higher volumes with some tracks

Why I like them

Cleer's Arc earbuds have been among the best-sounding open wireless earbuds with an ear-hook design, and the company's current flagship model, the Arc 5, continues this tradition. The spiritual successor to the Arc 3, the Arc 5 retains that model's robust feature set while offering a lighter and more refined design, even better battery life (up to 12 hours) and slightly improved sound. As with the Arc 3, the Arc 5 have something that other buds of this ilk don't have: a touchscreen LCD built into their charging case. The touchscreen allows you to control playback and access the buds' features, including EQ settings, and even use the case as a remote to snap a photo on your smartphone.

Fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating, the Arc 5 have built-in voice controls to raise and lower volume and skip tracks forward and backward, as well as Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking. Additionally, you can nod your head twice to take a call or shake your head back and forth to reject it. (This feature is referred to as gesture controls.) And finally, they have an ultraviolet light that sterilizes the buds when they're in the case and a step counter.

The buds' bass, however, lacks a little punch compared to what you get with a good set of noise-isolating buds in this price range, and they produce a bit of sibilance in the treble. But they offer relatively full sound with good clarity that holds together better at higher volumes (though they can distort at higher volumes with some tracks). They also offered solid voice-calling performance.

Reasons to buy

You're looking for a top-performing set of open buds with ear hooks that are loaded with features, including a case with a touchscreen LCD.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The buds are now seeing some discounts, but when they aren't on sale, they are fairly pricey. Also, while the design has been refined and is more comfortable, they may not fit all ears equally well.

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Pros

Quite affordable

Fit my ears securely and relatively comfortably

Decent battery life (up to 8 hours on a single charge)

Case is fairly slim

Customizable light

Cons

They sound decent enough for open buds but they lack a little bass and clarity

Design is somewhat generic

Not great in noisy environments

Why I like them

Anker's Soundcore V20i earbuds aren't going to win any awards for their design or sound quality -- there's a bit of distortion at higher volumes and they only output so much bass. But they look and sound decent enough for open buds, and they fit my ears comfortably. While their performance can't match what you get from more premium earbuds with ear hooks (that includes voice-calling performance), the key here is that they only cost around $30.

Reasons to buy them

If you're just looking for a pair of open sports buds that work acceptably well for not much money, the Soundcore V20i fit the bill. The step-up V30i buds are also just fine for about $10 more (there's also a V40I that's under $50), but I have no problem recommending the V20i so long as you don't have the highest expectations in the world.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

As far as ear-hook style earbuds go, the V20i are pretty basic. If you're looking for more slickly designed and better performing open earbuds, you'll need to pay more.

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Pros

Well-designed and comfortable to wear with a premium glossy finish

Good sound for open earbuds

Excellent voice-calling performance

Good battery life (up to 9 hours)

Cons

Pricey

Case doesn't support wireless charging

Touch controls are a tad finicky

When Sony launched its original stem-free, donut-shaped LinkBuds in 2022, I lauded them for being an innovative take on open earbuds after Apple had dominated the open earbuds genre with its AirPods for several years. The second-gen LinkBuds Open were released in 2024, and now Sony's added the donut-shaped LinkBuds, its take on the increasingly popular clip-on genre of open buds. While there isn't anything terribly innovative about them, especially given their high list price of $230, they're nicely designed, fit my ears well, sound good (for clip-on buds, anyway), have strong battery life and have excellent voice-calling performance. Read full review.

Reasons to buy

The LinkBuds Clip may not sound great compared with noise-isolating earbuds in the same price range, but they measure up quite well to other top clip-on buds, none of which feature fantastic sound and aren't really designed for critical listening. Where they do seem to have a real competitive advantage is with their voice-calling performance, which is great if you like to chat when you go for a run or do other activities.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The LinkBuds Clip seem a little overpriced at $230, which is why I have them rated just below four stars. Should they end up on sale on Amazon for $50 less, you can add a quarter star to my rating.

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Pros

Comfortable, secure fit

Improved sound with more bass

Good battery life

Well-priced

Cons

A little heavier than Shokz models

Anker's Soundcore AeroFit 2 open earbuds have been completely redesigned and look quite different from the original AeroFit buds. The second-gen Aerofit are not only more comfortable but look sleeker, sound significantly better and offer all-around improvements. The buds aren't as light as the Shokz OpenFit 2 buds and don't sound quite as good, but they cost less and offer good all-around performance with augmented bass response. Available in multiple colors, they're a good option for those looking for ear-hook style open earbuds with a fairly premium design and good sound quality without the high price tag of top-end models.

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Pros

Lightweight and comfortable, secure fit

Attractively designed

Good sound

Easy-to-use pinch controls

Decent battery life

Cons

Some competitors sound slightly better

The Nothing Ear (Open) buds may not sound quite as good as Shokz' OpenFit 2 buds, but they do offer very respectable sound for open earbuds and I found them lightweight and comfortable to wear (the overall fit and where the buds end up sitting on your ears will impact sound quality, particularly when it comes to bass performance). Overall, the buds are well-designed and feature Nothing's signature translucent plastic on the exterior of the bud. They're IP54 certified, which means they're splash-proof and dust-resistant.

Aside from their design, I liked their pinch controls and slim, elongated case. Voice-calling performance was also good, though it can be a little harder to hear callers in noisy environments because these are open earbuds. Battery life is rated at 8 hours at moderate volume levels with an additional 22 hours in the charging case. While there's a bass boost mode as part of the equalizer settings in Nothing's companion app for iOS and Android (there's also a "low-lag gaming mode), the buds can deliver only so much bass. But I was happy wearing them nevertheless.

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Budget

Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new open wireless earbuds. The quality of value-priced earbuds and headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable sports buds for less than $75. The premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost more than $100 and sometimes more than $150.

Fit, aka comfort

It's key that open wireless earbuds fit your ears not only comfortably but securely. They should offer a comfortable fit that allows you to wear the earbuds for long periods without any irritation. Since all the buds on this list have an open design, they should stay in your ears well. Some will fit in your ears more comfortably than others.

Durability

You want open wireless buds that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality and a good water-resistance rating.

Return policy

It's critical to buy your open wireless earbuds at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer's remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days, and then return one.

We test open wireless earbuds based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria are design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.

Design

We assess not only how comfortable the earbuds fit (ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. We also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.

Sound quality

We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the open earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.

Features

Some great-sounding open earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from noise-canceling and transparency modes (ambient sound mode) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears.

Voice-calling performance

When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice.

Value

We determine value after evaluating the strength of the earbuds against all these criteria and what the buds are able to deliver compared to other models in their price class.

Cleer Arc 3: Cleer's Arc 2 earbuds were among the best-sounding open wireless earbuds with an ear-hook design. The newer Arc 3 buds are still near the top for sound but other companies like Shokz and Bose have caught up and arguably sound slightly better. But the Cleer Arc 3 buds have something that other buds of this ilk don't have: a touchscreen LCD built into its charging case. It allows you to control playback and access the buds' features, including EQ settings and even use the case as a remote to snap a photo on your smartphone. As they've been on the market for a while and Cleer has released the newer Clear Arc 4 Plus without a smart case, the Arc 3 are being discounted.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip: The Soundcore by AeroClip are Anker's current flagship clip-on earbuds. Not only do I like their design -- they have a premium look and feel -- but they're comfortable to wear and feature very good sound for clip-on buds. Equipped with 12mm drivers, they serve up ample bass with good volume and decent clarity. The buds sound fuller and more open than many cheaper clip-on buds and are among the better-sounding open earbuds I've tried (Android users should note that they have support for Sony's high-quality LDAC audio codec). I also thought they worked well for making calls. For the most part, callers said they could hear me clearly -- even in noisier environments like the streets of New York City (Anker says they have four beamforming mics, wind-blocking meshes and advanced AI). Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours at moderate volume levels, and the buds are IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant (they're splash-proof). Wile they're list price is somewhat high, they are currently being discounted, which makes them a decent value.

Baseus Bowie MC1: Baseus is known for its value earbuds, power banks and charging products. While its Bowie MC1 ($43) aren't in the same league as Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, they cost around a sixth of the price and sound pretty decent for this style of of clip-on earbuds, particularly with less demanding tracks that don't feature heavy bass and a lot of instruments playing at the same time. note that the newer MC1 Pro feature improved sound and don't cost much more.

Edifier LolliClip: Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds may be the best-sounding and most comfortable clip-on earbuds. But they list for $300. In contrast, Edifier's new LolliClip buds cost $130 and their sound is pretty close to what you get with the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds -- and they're almost as comfortable to wear while fitting my ears securely. They also have some features the Bose buds don't have, including active noise canceling (it's not all that effective but you do sense it muffling some noise in the lower frequencies), a heart-rate monitor, blood oxygen sensor and spatial audio with head-tracking. There's also a low-latency mode for gaming and support the LDAC audio codec for Android users.

Sony LinkBuds Open: While the LinkBuds Open retain the ring-shaped open driver of the original LinkBuds, it's slightly smaller than the original's driver (11mm versus 12mm). Also, the Air Fitting Supporters are an improvement over the original's Arc Supporters, which were quite slim and didn't conform to the shape of your ear as well as these new supporters do. The combination of the slightly smaller driver design and the new supporters should allow the buds to fit more ears more comfortably and securely. However, those with smaller ears may have some issues with them.

Amazon Echo Buds: Amazon's 2023 Echo Buds impressed me in a few ways that I wasn't expecting. For starters, they sound good for inexpensive open earbuds, delivering decent clarity and ample bass. But they also have a robust feature set, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, hands-free Alexa and ear-detection sensors that pause your audio when you take one or both buds out of your ears. Their sound falls short of that of Apple's AirPods 4, which deliver better bass performance and overall fuller, cleaner sound (they're better at handling more complicated music tracks with a lot of instruments playing at the same time). But the AirPods 4, even the entry-level model ($129), cost significantly more.

Beyerdynamic Amiron 200: Beyerdynamic is known for its sound quality, so it's not surprising the Verio 200, its first open earbuds with ear hooks, deliver top-notch sound with nice depth and richness. They have very good clarity and bass performance for this type of open earbuds and match the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and Shokz OpenFit 2 for sound quality, and they may sound slightly better than those models depending on the fit you get. Unfortunately, how they fit your ears is the one big caveat about these buds. While they fit my ears comfortably and securely, they bent the top of my ears back a little so I looked a little funny wearing them. That said, they fit my wife's smaller ears perfectly.

1More Fit SE S30: 1More makes a few open sports earbuds with ear hooks, including the newer Fit SE S31 ($50). The Fit S50 ($100) feature a little better sound than the Fit SE S30, have a more premium design and are fully waterproof (IPX7 rating). But I like the fit a little better on the step-down S30, which is IPX5 splashproof (it can sustain a spray of water) and costs less than $40, making it a better value.

Soundcore by Anker AeroFit Pro: The AeroFit Pro are among the better open-ear "air conduction" earbuds, with a premium look and feel, and are comfortable to wear. (I had no problem keeping them on my ears while running or working out.) On the downside, they're expensive, but they do feature strong audio quality for these types of earbuds, with ample bass and volume, plus decent clarity. They're good for making calls (they do a pretty good job reducing background noise reduction) and also offer strong battery life of up to 14 hours at moderate volume levels.

Sony Link Buds: The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony's answer to Apple's standard AirPods. While they don't sound as good as Sony's flagship WF-1000XM5 noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as good sound and very good voice-calling performance.

Cleer Audio Arc 2 Sport: Cleer's original Arc earbuds were solid sport earbuds that featured decent sound for open-style buds that sit on top of your ears and fire sound into them. This new-for-2023 model steps up the sound quality and offers additional refinements and feature upgrades, including a new "enhanced" charging case with UV sterilization and multipoint Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 5.3), all of which makes for a significantly improved product.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: Samsung's bean-shaped earbuds were a hit when they came out in 2020, but they've become outdated. Like the standard AirPods, they have an open design, so you don't jam an ear tip into your ear. They're comfortable to wear and fit my ears more securely than the AirPods. These wireless buds are discreet and basically sit flush with your ear, which reduces wind-noise while biking. I regularly use them for running and biking, and they're great for sporting activities if they fit your ears well. But one warning: Some people won't get a secure fit, so buy them from a retailer that has a good return policy.

Are open earbuds worth buying?

It depends. Open earbuds are an excellent solution for activities that require some situational awareness; working in the office, walking around town, running outside with traffic or even hanging out at home. For those who want to hear the world around them while listening to music, open earbuds are your best option. But if you do your best work without distractions (think writing an essay or editing a spreadsheet) or just prefer to focus on the music, you may want to opt for something else. Because open earbuds don't include noise canceling (or noise cancelling, if you're from the UK), outside, ambient noise can creep in through the cracks. Consider your work style and needs before choosing some open earbuds.

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Which is better: open or closed earbuds?

It's a matter of personal preference, but many people prefer an open headphone design to a closed. Open or semi-open designs can offer a more comfortable fit as they don't seal off the canal with a squishy silicone tip. Because they don't seal off your ear canal, they let ambient sound in so you can hear what's going on around you. That can be an important safety feature for some people, including runners and bikers who want to hear cars approaching.

However, the downside to their openness is that if you're in a noisy environment, the ambient sound will make it harder to hear what you're listening to. Also, open earbuds have a harder time producing strong bass, which affects sound quality.

I suggest trying both open and closed true-wireless earbuds to see which design you prefer for everyday use, or switch between the two depending on your daily needs.

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How do I keep open earbuds from falling out of my ears?

With open earbuds, it's important that you get the right fit so they not only stay in your ears but so they sound and perform at their best. If you have trouble keeping earbuds in your ears, your best bet is to look for a model that includes wingtips or actually integrates them into the buds' design. You can also get earbuds that have ear hooks that wrap around the top of your ears. Several sports buds feature this design. It can be particularly appealing to bikers who can't afford to have their earbuds drop out of their ears while riding at high speed. Ensure you're choosing a pair with a secure design, like those with ear hooks that wrap around the back of your ear, and adjust the placement so that they comfortably grip the outer part of your ear without placing too much pressure on the ear canal. You can also try wearing a headband or ear warmers for an extra boost, especially during physical activity.

In some cases, like with regular AirPods models, you may find that a secure fit isn't entirely within the cards. AirPods have never fit all ears equally well, and a lot of people complain that they won't stay securely in their ears. You can buy third-party wingtips -- sometimes called sport fins -- that lock the buds in your ears. But you have to take them off every time you use your buds because they won't fit in the case.

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Should I use open earbuds or bone conduction headphones?

While both open earbuds and bone conduction headphones allow you to hear outside noise, the better option depends on your needs. Because open earbuds send vibrations directly to the ear canal via air conduction, they provide a much higher quality of overall sound -- great for music lovers. They're also ideal for all-day comfortable wear, especially for active people and runners. Still, some people find anything in or on their ears for long periods of time uncomfortable. Because bone conduction headphones deliver sound through your cheekbones, those who find ear tips difficult to manage may prefer their off-ear design. Also, higher-pitched sounds and voices are especially clear on bone conduction headphones, so they're great for listening to podcasts or taking phone calls. If you're looking to explore this option more, check out our roundup of the best bone conduction headphones this year.

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How do I clean my open earbuds?

We have an article on how to clean your AirPods that also applies to other open earbuds. But if you don't want to read that, the condensed version is this:

Wipe down both the buds themselves and ear tips with a slightly dampened soft, dry, lint-free cloth (like the kind you use to clean glasses or your phone's screen) and avoid using any soap or harsh cleaning liquids. A 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or a Clorox disinfecting wipe is OK but avoid getting too much moisture in any ports or inside the buds themself. You can also use a toothpick for any little crevices or a Q-tip with a bit of alcohol on it. Avoid saturating the Q-tip with alcohol. Finally, wait a few minutes until any moisture evaporates before using the buds.

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What is considered good battery life for open earbuds?

A battery life rating of five hours is considered adequate, but many of the latest buds offer 10 hours or more. If you plan on using your open earbuds for long periods of time, we highlighted several models that are suitable for double-digit use like the Anker AeroFit Pro or the 1More Fit SE S30.

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